Improvement in revolvsng ordnance



J. L. BONHAlVIf Machine Gun.

No. 363555. Patented Sept. 30, 1862.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. BONHAM, OF-HELLEN, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVlNG QRDNANCQE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,555, dated September 30, 1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L'JOHN L. BONHAM, of Hellen,in the countyof Elk and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Revolving Cannons; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in whi'ch- Figure 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 areal elevation, and Fig. 3 atop view, of a cannon illustrating my invention. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the revolving cylinder, swing ingl'rame, and hammer, taken in the line as w of Figs. 1 and 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The subject of my invention is a light fieldpiece, intended principally for flanking purposes, and adapted to throw projectiles of moderate size in rapid succession.

The invention particularly consists, first, in the use of a many-chambered cylinder revolv. ing in a bed adapted to swing on trunnions in a swiveled frame, as hereinafter explained; second, in mechanism by which a reciprocating lever is made to effect simultaneously the rotation of the cylinder and the withdrawal of the hammer.

The wheels A A, axle B, and limber C may be of common construction.

D is a frame secured to the axle B by means of a vertical bolt, E, so as to be capable of rotation in a horizontal plane. The said frame is formed with standards at d, affording bearings for trunnions F of a bed, G, in which a cylinder, H, is made to rotate upon an axispin, I. The cylinder is formed with a number of barrels, whichare loaded and discharged in succession, as hereinafter explained.

J is a lever rigidly attached to a band, K, which encircles the cylinder, fitting loosely in a latitudinal recess in the periphery thereof. Wedge-shaped recesses or cavities h are also formed in the periphery of the cylinder to receive a pawl, L, which is pressed into said recesses or cavities by a spring, 1..

The rear of the bed Gr is provided with a semi-cylindrical guide or shelf, M, along which charges are introduced to the successive barrels, a. knife, N, by which the cartridge is opened as the cylinder is rotated, and a nipple, O, to receive a percussion-cap to effect the disc-h arge. The cap is exploded by means of a springhammer, P, attached to the bed in any suitable manner and operated by a trip, Q, depending from the band K, or by other suitable means.

Guns of this construction may be advantageously used of a size to carry a four-pound conicaiball, and by reason of the rapidity with which they may be tired will be found to be very effective for flanking purposes and other light field-service.

The gun may be operated by four men, one to insert the cartridge,one to rotate the cylinder, one to apply the percussion-cap, and one to swab. As each barrel is presented to the guide or shelf M a cartridge is inserted. A

further rotation of the cylinder severs the end of the cartridge by the action of the knife N, and then presents it. to the nipple. during which time the trip Q has so far withdrawn the hammer from the nipple asto permit the attendant to remove the exploded cap and place anew one upon the nipple. At the instant the charged barrel is brought to coincide with the nipple the trip Q is thrown from the hammer by a protuberance upon the bed G, and the hammer 'thns released explodes the cap upon the nipple and ett'ects the discharge.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination of the revolving manychambered cylinder H, swinging bed G, and swivelcd frame D, constructed and operated in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

2. The knife N, in combination with the cylinder H, when arranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the cylinder H, lever J, pawl L, trip Q, and hammer P, when arranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

The above specification of my improvement in revolving cannons signed this 18th day of January, 1862.

J. L. BONHAM.

Witnesses:

Ocravrus KNIGHT, EDM. F. BROWN. 

